In
a prior question, Jim Leishman commented that one of the Nordhavn
46s was using a cheap stepdown transformer in Europe. We did
this also, but it should be used only for resistive loads--that
would include the water heater, heaters with small fans may
be OK, pure element heaters are fine. Many battery chargers
do run well on the 50 hz. However many motors will not - especially
refigerators/freezers, washing machines, watermakers, etc.
Microwaves will not do well as far as the cooking. At one
time the entire US was 50 hz and the country was changed in
the late 1940's mostly because of better transmission characteristics
of the 60 hz power. At that time all clocks (synchronous motors)
refigerators, washers, industrial motors, etc. had to be changed.
Resistive loads, includng light bulbs did not.

Congratulations
on a trouble free trip--It took us over a year to get all
of the red dust out of the crevices and rigging when we cruised
Europe.

Dan
Streech responds:

Thank
you for your comment about using a simple step-down transformer
while in Europe.

I
often see your name and comments on the Trawler World list
and nearly always find myself in agreement with your detailed
and thoughtful answers. Your wealth of experience comes thru
in your answers and I have learned a few things from you.

You
are correct that when operating a 60Hz boat in a 50Hz country,
there is normally more to the story than the use of a simple
step-down transformer.

There
are so many factors to consider, that we take each boat on
a case by case basis when preparing a 60Hz boat for temporary
operation with 50Hz and thus a complete foolproof guide canít
be presented in this forum.

Some
of the approaches however are:

1.
We rely on the fact that Cruisair air-conditioning can operate
on either 50 or 60 Hz, so we always provide a separate AC
inlet for it. A normally 120VAC 60Hz boat (N35, N40 and some
N46s) would use the simple step-down transformer described
above. A normally 240VAC 60 Hz boat can plug directly into
European (or Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia) 50Hz power
which is usually 230VAC.

2.
We rely on an inverter(s) to provide 60Hz power to the items
such as refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, trash compactors,
TV sets and audio systems.

3.
Since some inverters (such as the Trace SW series) are too
smart to accept 50Hz power and others (such as the Heart)
would pass thru unwanted 50 Hz power, we donít plug in the
main house power cord. Instead, we provide a separate dedicated
50Hz inlet with the power directed to a 50Hz 230VAC battery
charger.

4.
The hot water heater (as you mentioned, a resistive load and
not frequency sensitive) is temporarily rewired over to the
air-conditioning buss.

5.
Ovenís and cook tops are tricky and made more so because they
are normally 240VAC. Old dumb units are not frequency sensitive
but many new units with microprocessors are. We donít chance
it and recommend:

Equip
the boat with LPG from the beginning (applicable to the
N35, N40 and N46).

Run
the generator.

Use
two Trace SW inverters configured in a ďseries stackedĒ configuration
which then simultaneously produces
both 120VAC and 240VAC 60Hz (applicable to the N50, N57 &N62).

6.
Water makers are typically not run at the dock and therefore
can rely on the generator.

7.
Washer/dryers can be carefully run from the inverter.

Please
note that the above is only a glimpse into a complicated subject
that must be talked thru on a case by case basis. For example,
I havenít even touched on isolation transformers, GFI circuits,
safety, neutral/ground bonding, color coding etc.

I
hope that the above helps some readersÖ and has not caused
further confusion.